Newbie update

[jaycee444]

Have just seen my GP for review after three weeks on 15 mg Prednisolone. She has decided to keep me on 15 mg for the next month then more bloods and review again with regards to starting a taper. Talked about Calcium and Vit D supplements etc and she has at my request agreed to let me control this with diet for the next month as I am very reluctant not to add more to the mix at present. I will however follow her advice after that if need be. I am now the proud owner of a Steroid treatment Card lol.

Thanks to all who have given me so much helpful advice. When it comes to a taper my GP has said it can be done very slowly and she will work with me to get to the right dose.

[Hidden]

It sounds very sensible by dr to leave you at 15mg. I wish i had had that approach.

Please consider vitd3 and calcium. You have to leave a couple of hours between pred and it, but i think most on here would say its perhaps the most benign way to protect your bones. Hopefully dr will do Dexa scan asap so any changes in bone density can be monitored in future.

[Soraya_PMR in reply to Hidden]

Plus vit K2 to help get the calcium into your bones.,

And prunes!

[Louisepenygraig in reply to Soraya_PMR]

I eat prunes too but more to help with the constipation that comes with my meds. It's good that they help with calcium too!

[Soraya_PMR in reply to Louisepenygraig]

It may be their relatively high vitK content or phenolics, but they appear to enhance osteoblasts (bone builders) and inhibit osteoclasts (bone reducers). Tasty whatever 👍🏼

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Louisepenygraig in reply to Soraya_PMR]

I know lots of people don't like then but I think they're tasty too!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Louisepenygraig]

I like them as well!

[Marilyn1959]

Your GP sounds like gold dust. Hangon to him / her. Sounds like a sensible plan.

[Soraya_PMR in reply to Marilyn1959]

Good to hear isn’t it? “My GP will work WITH me” Ah! The stuff dreams are made of.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Sounds good to me! But go for the VitD/Calcium prescription - I’m still on it 2 years after finishing Pred! Plus as Soraya says Vit K2.

[Nerak12]

Wonderful you have such a helpful GP. Completely understand your reluctance to add in more tablets, but please, please ask for a DEXA scan if you haven’t one already and then you can make an informed choice regarding the VitD & calcium. The side effects of bone supplements are far, far less than bisphosphonates and the like and in this case prevention is definitely better than cure. Good luck on your taper and your PMR journey. X

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I agree with P-d-p about calcium - providing it doesn't upset you it is such an easy way of making sure there is loads of calcium floating around to be sure it is captured.

And vit D must be a supplement.

[jaycee444 in reply to PMRpro]

I wont be seeing my GP again till the end of May. Are there OTC Vit D and calcium supplements I can take in the meantime?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to jaycee444]

Probably but I don't live in the UK so I'm not up to date - maybe others can help.

[piglette in reply to jaycee444]

My rheumatologist who I saw privately to start with as my GP could not diagnose what was wrong with me, suggested I went and bought vit D and calcium from a health food shop. I now get them on prescription from my GP. Have you had a vit D blood test? It is also a good idea to get a Dexascan which checks your bone density.

[fmkkm]

Hi jaycee,

Request a vit D test and you will have an idea about adding it.

[Hidden]

It’s surprising how many of us in general have low doses of Vitamin D especially after the winter.

I had mine checked routinely & it was low so had a month on high dose VitaminD on top of my Calcium/VitD Tablet.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

The impact of the 6 weeks on high dose weekly vitd were good for me at dx. I felt better with that and the pred. I believe i felt the difference the day after i took the vitd for those 6 weeks.